Brampton FCA Plant Shuts Down as Supplier Strike Continues

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles cancelled both shifts at its Brampton, Ontario assembly plant Thursday, stemming the flow of Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, and Dodge Challenger models.

Blame the work stoppage on a lack of seats. Brampton’s just-in-time supplier, Lear, saw its workforce go on strike last weekend after failing to reach a collective-bargaining agreement. However, a new wrinkle in this relatively commonplace labor action is that Lear plans to close its plant.

Lear Ajax employees walked off the job early Saturday, but by Tuesday there seemed to be a ray of light. A tentative agreement was reached between the company and Unifor Local 222, the workers’ union, but employees voted it down (to the tune of 94 percent) during a ratification meeting held the same day.

The following day, Lear Corp. issued a letter to the plant’s chairperson, stating its plans to close the Ajax plant. The closure would take effect “as soon as practical,” the company stated, but not before the conclusion of its current programs. Obviously, FCA needs those seats.

With its current seat supply used up, FCA Canada had no choice but to turn off the lights on Thursday.

“FCA cancelled both shifts at its Brampton Assembly Plant today as a result of ongoing negotiations between Lear and Unifor,” wrote Lou Ann Gosselin, head of communications for FCA Canada, in an email to TTAC late Thursday.

While there’s no danger to 300, Charger, and Challenger sales just yet, the drying up of production clearly gave the union leverage in its talks with Lear. Unifor announced a new tentative agreement on Friday morning. A ratification meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. today, so we’ll know the near-term production fate of FCA’s full-size cars before the weekend.

[Image: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles]

Steph Willems
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  • Jpolicke In a communist dictatorship, there isn't much export activity that the government isn't aware of. That being the case, if the PRC wanted to, they could cut the flow of fentanyl down to a trickle. Since that isn't happening, I therefore assume Xi Jinping doesn't want it cut. China needs to feel the consequences for knowingly poisoning other countries' citizens.
  • El scotto Oh, ye nattering nabobs of negativism! Think of countries like restaurants. Our neighbors to the north and south are almost as good and the service is fantastic. They're awfully close to being as good as the US. Oh the Europeans are interesting and quaint but you really only go there a few times a year. Gents, the US is simply the hottest restaurant in town. Have to stand in line to get in? Of course. Can you hand out bribes to get in quicker? Of course. Suppliers and employees? Only the best on a constant basis.Did I mention there is a dress code? We strictly enforce it. Don't like it? Suck it.
  • 1995 SC At least you can still get one. There isn't much for Ford folks to be happy about nowadays, but the existence of the Mustang and the fact that the lessons from back in the 90s when Ford tried to kill it and replace it with the then flavor of the day seem to have been learned (the only lessons they seem to remember) are a win not only for Ford folks but for car people in general. One day my Super Coupe will pop its headgaskets (I know it will...I read it on the Internet). I hope I will still be physically up to dropping the supercharged Terminator Cobra motor into it. in all seriousness, The Mustang is a.win for car guys.
  • Lorenzo Heh. The major powers, military or economic, set up these regulators for the smaller countries - the big guys do what they want, and always have. Are the Chinese that unaware?
  • Lorenzo The original 4-Runner, by its very name, promised something different in the future. What happened?
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